March 24, 2009
Not A Cure, But An Improvement
Genetic researchers in Japan have developed an innovative method for treating Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy in dogs. The treatment involves a genetic "patch" that inhibits a portion of the DMD gene, causing the remainder of the gene to express itself as the milder Becker muscular dystrophy. Video of treated and untreated dogs shows noticeable improvements in the treated dogs, but it will be some time before this method can be tested on humans.
It will probably take decades before congenital disabilities can be completely erased from an individual's DNA, but treatments like this--that trade a severe condition for a milder form--might be much closer to being realized.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at March 24, 2009 10:21 PM
Comments
How do you manage to find all these important articles?
Posted by: Mieke Verstraete at March 25, 2009 04:53 PM